syncretism & sustainability in southern china: A Shang-highlight

My roommates and I discovered a new location that is one of my new favorites in all of the city. Although I haven't yet had a repeat experience, I'm certain it will happen soon. You've seen the pictures of the slums that we see being demolished behind our apartment complex (Rainbow City), and one of our common routes for dinner or otherwise is to walk down Tianbao Rd, a street that goes down one side of the perimeter of the slum. Just as within where some families have only rubble piles as their neighbors, there are thriving restaurants and shops next to recently demolished ones on this road. After walking a few blocks, the buildings grow taller and shinier the closer that you come to entering He Ping Park.

Gianmarco and Garrett in front of one of our favorite restaurants on Tianbao Rd, "Panda Express"

Just before the Northern gate of the park, however, is an intriguing door with a young woman in traditional Chinese dress beckoning you to investigate further. Behind her is a large, uncovered foyer with a cobblestone pathway and lush bonsai tree garden. The lone character hanging above the door indicates that it is a tea house, which sounded like the perfect thing to fight the chill of Shanghai's biting winter air. We awkwardly stumble in after the young woman, as we follow her while trying to take in all of the beauty around us. She tries to seat us inside a private room, and although our shivers tempt us to take this warmer option, we can't turn down the tranquil sights of overlooking He Ping park from a table outside near the lake. After wandering around with mouths agape for a few more minutes, we finally sit down to take a look at the menu.

Our English-teacher budgeting opts us to automatically order three of the cheapest teas available, for 68 kuai each (about $10). Garrett tried a young white tea, Gianmarco a mind enlightenment tea, and I a golden oolong tea. Although it was a pretty steep price to pay just for a pot of tea, we were excited about the atmosphere, so willing to shell up the Maos. Immediately, they began to bring sunflower seeds, nuts, fruits, candy, and other snacks to our table until it was virtually covered with delicious things to eat. Then came the tea: a minimalist tumbler of loose tea leaves for Garrett, a beautiful clear pot full of flowers, dried fruit, and leaves for Gianmarco, and an entire Chinese tea ceremony with wood blocks for my oolong. We sat in the garden for hours sipping our tea, munching on snacks, and reflecting on our lives. It is one of the few places where I've gone in this city of 20 million people that I was able to get away from crowded streets, and it was definitely a welcome escape.